I spoke at our campus in Georgia last Easter (my first year here), so I’ve never been on our Mandarin campus on Easter, but the more I prayed about it the more I knew that I needed to preach downtown last Sunday.

It was a blessing beyond description.

About one hundred and twenty-five people from our Celebrate Recovery ministry and I held a service for at least one hundred homeless people under a tent in the parking lot next to the dining hall at the mission downtown.

Their were no beautiful flowers, but there were a ton of beautiful people.A couple of the homeless people were wearing fancy outfits, but most were dressed in clothing that was old, dirty, and well-worn.The crowd was huge–standing room only . . . and they spoke encouraging words to me during my sermon.

“Preach it!”“That’s right!”“Amen!”“Come on!”

And the music provided by the CR band was truly special.

When the service was over we served them lunch and gave them new pairs of socks as they left.

I met so many interesting people that morning.

Tim is from Knoxville. He has a herniated disk in his back and he was divorced five years ago. He doesn’t like living alone.

Jamie told me that he was entering a substance abuse recovery program on Monday. He was excited that he’s been sober for a month. I hope he went.

Willy loves Jesus and is grateful for his friend Jack who helps him walk around town.

Winston loves to read, enjoys the freedom of living on the streets, but has no use for God. He had dread-locks, army pants, and eyes that–as we spoke–seemed to be searching for something beyond our conversation.

I had the chance to touch a lot of people.

It was an amazing experience. It was a humbling experience and a reminder that preaching is not enough.

“Preaching is not enough.”

This is what Straton–a preacher in Africa–said in a video I watched today.

I want to be like Straton, because Straton is like Jesus.

In the video Straton confesses that he learned what more preachers (like me) need to remember: Words are not enough.

Jesus didn’t just talk about feeding the hungry; he multiplied the loaves and fed the hungry.Jesus didn’t just talk about healing the diseased; he touched the lepers.Jesus didn’t just talk about serving the needy; he washed dirty feet.He didn’t just preach about loving people; he actually loved people.

Preachers, we have to preach. It’s what we’ve been called to do, but people need more than words. They need us to set an example. They need us to understand that preaching is not enough.

It wasn’t enough for Jesus, it’s not enough for Straton, and it’s no longer enough for me.

Who is Arron Chambers? Lead Minister of Journey Christian Church in Greeley, Colorado, Author, Husband of a Lovely Wife, Father of Four Kids, Evangelism Champion, Leadership Consultant, Marriage Coach, and Blogger

New Edition of Eats with Sinners

Loving Like Jesus

A Book on Discipleship by Arron Chambers

Devoted: Isn't It Time To Fall More In Love With Jesus?

Other Books by Arron Chambers

Identity precedes purpose—once we understand who we are, we more clearly understand why we are here. Let Remember Who You Are help you understand how your identity is crucial to fulfilling your destiny.

Adult book for Studio GO! Game Show (VBS 2009)Each of the eight chapters:• Focuses on one aspect of going out in Jesus' name • Combines entertaining TV game show trivia, compelling stories, and solid biblical insight• Concludes with call-to-action questions for individual reflection or small group discussion

The Bible is as relevant today as it was in Jesus' time-if you only know where and how to look. In Scripture to Live By, you'll find people of practical faith just like you, who look to the Scripture for guidance in the living of their daily lives. The problems they face are large and small, petty and profound, life and death-from raising kids on your own to dealing with serious illness. Yet the solutions are all to be found within Scripture-if you learn to read God's word with an open heart. Arron Chambers shows you how to do just this, with the insightful commentary that accompanies each story. This collection of stories by some of today's most respected Christian writers including Molly Noble Bull, David Faust, and Dr. Rebecca Price Janney, is sure to teach us all how to keep God's word with us throughout the day.

There's a poster circulating that says, "All men die, but not all men truly live." It's something to ponder. Are we truly living? We get up, brush our teeth, hug our kids and go to work, school, or the couch. We inhale and exhale shallow, safe breaths. We pay our bills. We get through each day. But is this living? Maybe not. Running on Empty was written to recharge today's believers. The author describes twenty-one qualities for living life to the fullest based on the Gospel of John and shows readers how to get on the path to a full and meaningful life!